Package for thin elogated articles



Aug. 9, 1966 T. A. wozNIAK 3,265,204

PACKAGE FOR THIN ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed July 29, 1964 2 F IG.4

13 14 23 14 22 1413 16 (l /i FIG.3

INVENTOR. Theodore A. l l azm'air flGENT United States Patent 3,265,204PACKAGE FOR THIN ELONGATED ARTICLES Theodore A. Wozniak, Harrington,R.I., assignor to Engelhard Industries, Inc., Newark, N..I., acorporation of Delaware Filed July 29, 1964, Ser. No. 385,856 4 Claims.(Cl. 206-65) The present invention deals with a package for thinelongated articles and more particularly with a package for containingnumerous thin elongated articles which are required to be packagedseparately of each other.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package for thin elongatedarticles 'wherein the articles are safeguarded against undesirablemovement in shipment.

It is another object of the invention to provide a package for numerousthin elongated articles and which package is adapted to facilitate thepackaging operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe description hereinafter following and the drawings forming a parthereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of an open package section according tothe invention,

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the package section of FIGURE 1 inclosed condition and telescopically inserted in a closure sleeve,

FIGURE 3 is an end view along lines 3-3 of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along lines 44 of FIGURE1, and

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of a thin elongated metal article of thetype contained by the package of FIGURE-S 1 to 3.

Regarding the figures, the package of the invention comprises a box-likepackage section 1 as shown in open position by FIGURE 1. The packagesection is formed, for example, from cardboard in the form of a boxhaving a bottom wall 2, opposite side walls 3 and 4 and one end wall 5bridging the side walls at their ends. The end of box section 1 oppositethe end wall 5 is an open end. An elongated apron having a widthcorresponding with the width of the bottom wall extends outwardly of thebottom all at the open end of the box section 1. The apron 6 is creasedas at 8 across its width and spaced from the open end of the box sectiona distance corresponding to the heighth of the sides 3 and 4. Theportion of the apron extending outwardly of crease 8 has a lengthcorresponding to the lengths of sides 3 and 4, whereby the apron 6 isfoldable over the open end and the open top of the box to enclose thebox. The box is provided with a platform 9 on its inner bottom surface.The platform 9 has a length corresponding with the length of the bottomwall 2 and width less than the width of the bottom wall and is securedto the bottom wall with a longitudinal edge 10 thereof in abutment withone side, e.g., side 4 leaving the other longitudinal edge 11 spacedfrom the other side wall 3 thereby providing a longitudinal recess 12between the platform 9 and side wall 3. A first pleated strip 13 formingvertical V-shaped pockets 14, as illustrated by FIGURE 4, is mounted inthe box section 1. One of the pleat folds 13' at the end of the strip issecured relative to end wall 5 by gluing or pasting, e.g., directly tothe end wall 5 or to a rigid spacer means, e.g., rigid strip 15 which isPatented August 9, 1966 secured to end wall 5. The other end of strip 13has its terminal pleat fold 13" secured to another rigid spacer means 16which is freely slidable on platform 9. Movement of the second spacermeans 16 relative to spacer means 15 results in opening or closing thestrip pockets 14 in accordion-like fashion. A series of strips 17, 18and 19 identical to strip 16 are connected between a series of spacedspacer means 16, 20, 21 and 22 and have their terminal pleat foldssecured to the spacer means identically as with pleat folds 13" securedto spacer means 16. The strips 13, 17, 1'8 and 19 are of shorter lengththan the spacers 15, 16, 20, '21 and 22 and correspond in length withthe length of platform 9, thereby leaving the recess 12 as a continuousrecess along the length of the box section 1. Since the series of pleatstrips are interconnected by means of the spacers and since the pleatfold 13' of the first pleat strip 13 is anchored to the inner side ofthe box section 1, it will be apparent that the movement of the spacersrelative to each other results in the opening and closing of the strippockets.

With the pockets 14 in open position, elongated articles such as ametallic whisker or finger 23, as illustrated by FIGURE 5, is positionedinto each pocket, as illustrated by FIGURES 3 and 4, with the operatingbent terminal 24 of finger 23 supported on the edge 11 of platform 9 anddirectly downward-1y in-to recess 12. p

The spacers 16, 20, 21 and 22 have a length dimensioned to fit withtheir ends slidably engageable with sides 3 and 4 to prevent lateraldisplacement of the strips in the box section 1. Also, the spacers actas a handling means for opening and closing the respective series ofstrips therebetween. Having loaded the pockets with the articles, thestrips are closed in accordion fashion and the apron 6 is liftedupwardly and over the open top of box section 1 thereby closing the boxsection. When in closed postion the box section 1 is telescoped into arectangular sleeve 25 dimensioned to frictionally engage the contactingsurfaces of the box section 1.

Various modifications of the invention are contemplated with'in thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A package comprising a bottom wall, opposite side walls, an end wallconnecting the side walls, said end Wall and side walls defining an opentop, an open end opposite the end wall, an apron extending outwardly ofthe bottom wall adjacent the open end and dimensioned to close the openend and cover the top when folded thereupon, a pleated strip in saidpackage having a terminal pleat fold anchored to the end wall, anelongated spacer means in said package spaced from the end wall andhaving its ends extending adjacent the side walls and movable along thebottom wall, another terminal pleat of the pleated strip being anchoredto the spacer means.

2. A package comprising a bottom wall, opposite side walls, 'an end wallconnecting the side walls, said end wall and side walls defining an opentop, an open end opposite the end wall, an apron extending outwardly ofthe bottom wall adjacent the open end and dimensioned to close the openend and cover the top when folded thereupon, a first pleated strip insaid package having a terminal pleat fold anchored to the end wall, anelongated first spacer means in said package spaced from the end walland having its ends extending adjacent the side walls and movable alongthe bottom wall, another terminal plea-t of the pleated strip beinganchored to a side of the spacer means, a second pleated strip having aterminal end fold anchored to the spacer means and extending in thedirection of the open end, a second elongated spacer means in thepackage spaced from the first spacer means and having its ends extendingadjacent the opposite side .Walls and movable along the bottom Wall,another terminal pleat of the second pleated strip anchored to thesecond spacer means.

3. A package according to claim 2, comprising a platfonm on the innersurface of the bottom wall, one end of the platform positioned adjacentone side wall and another end spaced from the other side wall forming arecess between the other platform end and the other side ReferencesCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,194,828 3/1940 Greaves.

2,619,233 11/1952 Weiskopf 129--16 X 2,980,244 4/1961 Le Gendre 206-46LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

2. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL, OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, AN END WALLCONNECTING THE SIDE WALLS, SAID END WALL AND SIDE WALLS DEFINING AN OPENTOP, AN OPEN END OPPOSITE THE END WALL, AN APRON EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OFTHE BOTTOM WALL ADJACENT THE OPEN END AND DIMENSIONED TO CLOSE THE OPENEND AND COVER THE TOP WHEN FOLDED THEREUPON, A FIRST PLEATED STRIP INSAID PACKAGE HAVING A TERMINAL PLEAT FOLD ANCHORED TO THE END WALL, ANELONGATED FIRST SPACER MEANS IN SAID PACKAGE SPACED FROM THE END WALLAND HAVING ITS ENDS EXTENDING ADJACENT THE SIDE WALLS AND MOVABLE ALONGTHE BOTTOM WALL, ANOTHER TERMINAL